A Versatile, Durable, and Cost-Effective Guide Pattern tied by Joe Jackson @Sgt.Bassfisher
The Craft Fur Minnow represents practical fly tying at its finest—combining simplicity, durability, and fish-catching effectiveness in one straightforward pattern. This fly has earned its place as a guide favorite for good reason: it's quick to tie, uses affordable materials, and most importantly, it catches fish consistently in both fresh and saltwater environments. For anglers who frequent waters where fly loss is common—rocky bottoms, heavy structure, or areas with aggressive fish species—having a pattern that performs well without breaking the bank becomes essential. The Craft Fur Minnow perfectly fills this niche while maintaining an impressively realistic baitfish profile in the water.
Craftfur Baitfish Materials List
Hook: Ahrex SA210 size 2 (or similar saltwater/streamer hook)
Thread: Semperfli 200D Nano Silk (or equivalent strong tying thread)
Tail/Body: Semperfli Craft Fur - white and olive (or your preferred color combination)
Eyes: Nature's Spirit 3D Eyes
Adhesives: Zap-A-Gap and Goop (or similar cyanoacrylate and flexible adhesives)
Tools: Bodkin, scissors, and fine file
Craftfur Baitfish Step-by-Step Tying Instructions
1. Prepare the Hook
Secure your hook firmly in the vise with the point facing upward. Using a fine file, gently file down the sides of the hook shank. This creates a flatter surface for better material adhesion and helps prevent the craft fur from spinning around the hook.
2. Apply Adhesive Base
Apply a light layer of Zap-A-Gap along the hook shank. Don't oversaturate—you need just enough to create a tacky surface that will help secure the craft fur in place during the initial wraps.
3. Prepare and Tie In First Craft Fur Section
Cut a 1" × 1" square of white craft fur. Using a comb or your fingers, remove the shorter underfur to leave the longer fibers. Measure the fur to be approximately 1.5-2 times the length of the hook shank.
Tie in the first third of this craft fur bundle behind the eye, positioning it so the fibers extend toward the bend of the hook. Secure with several tight thread wraps.
4. Add Bottom Layer (Rotate Hook)
Rotate your vise 180 degrees (or flip the hook upside down if your vise doesn't rotate). Cut another 1" × 1" square of white craft fur (your lightest color). This time, don't comb out the underfur—this will help create fullness on the belly of the minnow. Measure this section to the same length as the first and tie it in at the eye. Leave a small section—about a quarter of the shank from the eye—unsecured. This creates space for the thread dam later.
5. Add Top Layer (Return to Original Position)
Rotate the vise back to its original position. Cut a similar square of olive craft fur (or your darker shade). Measure and tie it in following the same technique as the previous step, creating the darker back of the minnow.
6. Thread Positioning
Carefully pass your thread through the materials to the eye of the hook. Ideally, pass between the two bundles of craft fur to avoid obstruction. A helpful technique is to use a hollow straw or pen tube to push the craft fur back, then remove it while holding the fur in place.
7. Create a Thread Dam
With the craft fur held back, create a thread dam by making multiple tight wraps in front of the material. This dam helps secure the craft fur and creates the defined head shape of the minnow.
8. Secure the Shape
After establishing the thread dam, pull the craft fur back into a streamlined minnow silhouette. Coat approximately two inches of thread with Zap-A-Gap and wind it tightly against the craft fur to lock the shape in place. Complete with a whip finish knot and trim the excess thread.
9. Attach the Eyes
Using a bodkin, apply a small amount of Goop on each side of the fly, just behind the thread dam. The flexible nature of Goop (rather than hard adhesive) helps the eyes remain attached even after multiple strikes.
10. Position and Align Eyes
Place the 3D eyes over the Goop and press them gently into the fly. Take a moment to ensure they're aligned symmetrically on both sides. Make any necessary adjustments while the adhesive is still pliable, then allow to dry completely before fishing.
